Beloved in their native Canada, but largely unknown here in the States, Teaze were part of a wave of ’70s hard rock bands who foreshadowed the traditional metal boom of the early ’80s. Think Rush, Triumph, April Wine, Moxy, and beyond. Why Teaze never reached the heights of their peers is a mystery to this day, though when looking back on their catalog, perhaps they were too ahead of their time. Similar to fellow late ’70s cult heroes Angel and Starz, Teaze’s fusion of high octane metal riffs and glam rock hooks laid down the groundwork for hat became glam metal proper come the ’80s. Also like Angel and Starz, Teaze didn’t stick around to reap the fruits of their labor. Surely, a young Nikki Sixx or Blackie Lawless had to have laid their ears on “Ready to Move” at least once.
46 years since we last heard from them, Teaze are making up for lost time with a brand new studio album entitled Rev Your Engines. Founding members Brian Danter (bass, vocals) and Mark Bradac (guitars) remain from the band’s heyday, and are joined by guitarist Chuck Lambrick and drummer Jim Bonventre. There are many concerns that come with a release of this nature, and those concerns can be voiced in a million different manners. What it ultimately comes down to, however, is the million dollar question: Can the band still pull it off? In the case of Teaze, yes, they can and they do with an album that encapsulates everything that made them kickass the first time around, while adding new elements that broaden their sound.
Wasting no time at all, Teaze hits the ground running with a highly energetic opener in the form of the title track. This song is fast, robust, and boasts that late ’70s headbanger riff onslaught that initially saddled the band alongside the likes of Riot and April Wine, once the latter found their groove with 1978’s First Glance. The introspective ballad “Man of Vision” follows, showcasing an older, wiser side to the band that simply couldn’t have existed in their youth. The same can be said for “We Are One” for that matter. With the exception of the closing “Sweet Misery”, the ballads on this album, shockingly, are top notch, having less in common with your run of the mill, contractually obligated AOR slop and more in common with latter day Priest.
For those who like their Teaze on the hard rockin’ and unserious side, fear not! There’s no shortage of bangers on here for your listening pleasure too. The ultra proto-glam metal leanings of “Turning the Night Away”, “Gotta Rock”, and “Wonder” could’ve fit on any initial Teaze outing, exploding out of our speakers like the Great White North’s answer to the mighty Van Halen. “City of Roses”, the cut that should’ve served as closer, is an unadulterated slab of rowdy barroom metal circa ’79, while a crushing rendition of Rainbow’s “Man on the Silver Mountain” serves as a fitting tribute to Ronnie James Dio and a band whose mark on hard rock and heavy metal is still heard to this day.
Though I personally feel Rev Your Engines, didn’t have to be an 11 song outing, I can’t fault a band who hasn’t done anything musically in nearly half a century. Even the average tracks on here leave a pleasant aftertaste, while the highlights, again, are on par with anything dropped under the Teaze moniker in their prime. I tip my figurative hat to Danter and Bradac for sticking to their guns after such a prolonged absence, and Lambrick and Bonventre for helping ’em get it done. If Rev Your Engines doesn’t get your engine revving, I’m not sure what will!
7 out of 10
Label: Deko Music
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Van Halen, April Wine, Riot
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